These questions have answers marked "best" by the asker.
December 20
Staying Professionally Relevant
You’re unable to be as active in your professional life but wish to remain professionally relevant. What’s your strategy? [more inside]
December 19
Is there a linguistic term for putting "uh" at the ends of sentences?
Recently, I've been watching a lot of police bodycam videos, and I've noticed a tendency among upset young people to put "uh" at the end of the last word in I sentence. For example, "I was just there" becomes "I was just there-uh" and "There's no reason" becomes "There's no reason-uh." I don't know if young people also do it when they're not upset or only when they're upset. Is there a specific linguistic term for this habit? For example, making a declarative statement with a rising tone that makes it sound like a question is "uptalk," and a crackling voice is called "vocal fry." So do linguists have a word for this "-uh"? Also, I feel like it's a relatively phenomenon. Does anyone know roughly where it started, where it came from, etc?
Shows (magic or otherwise) with implications that spill outside the show
Human-Search-Enginefilter: I've been thinking a lot about theater that spills outside the context of the specific performance. For example "In and Of Itself", Derek DelGaudio makes a brick disappear and has it reappear at an intersection named by an audience member. Or, extreme haunted houses might give participants a tattoo during the performance. What are some other examples of this? I'm particularly interested in examples where the stage component is a 10-15 minute self-contained piece that teases the much larger context, rather than e.g. a 3-hour show that starts before the showtime or ends after the curtain call.
Baseball shirt just for me
I'd like a personalised baseball shirt. I want my "team name" on the front, and my own name and number on the back, classic like. However, I would like it in nice quality, and with a proper sewn-on front name, or embroidered or whatever the method is. I don't mind transfer on the back I guess? [more inside]
urgent print vendor needed! for white ink, pre-addressed envelopes
Can you recommend a print shop (ideally one you have personally worked with!) I am in my own special circle of printing hell. I have been fighting for weeks with envelopes.com on two (relatively straightforward!) orders of pre-addressed envelope printing. Complicating factors: we need WHITE ink on navy envelopes (and a few other finicky things). More snowflakes inside [more inside]
Same Word/ Different Meaning in Regional English?
Grilling in the UK typically means using "the grill" section of the cooker/ cooking using a heat source from above, but in the US I believe this is broiling/ using "the broiler", and grilling in the US is using a heat source from below (I think like a barbecue in the UK?). What other words might cause confusion for two English-speakers of different dialects, thinking they mean the same thing, but really they don't?
why is my hair suddenly dry and tangled? (European edition)
50s woman with long blonde hair moved back to Europe a year ago, and find myself with massive tangles, particularly in the lower part of my hair close to my neck. Any idea why or how to fix? [more inside]
How would you approach this lingering congestion?
After about ten days, I can't seem to kick this lingering congestion. Not bad enough to knock me out of commission, but I have things to do and people to see and no one wants me sniffling all over them. What should I do? [more inside]
December 18
Lossy Image Compression Build-Up
How many times can you re-save a JPG on the highest quality setting before image deterioration from the lossy compression becomes noticeable?
5 Sense Stocking Stuffer Ideas - Sound!
HELP! I need some stocking stuffer ideas for a 5 senses theme. I have sight, taste, touch, and smell covered but can't think of anything for sound. Details within! [more inside]
👽 🎁
Alien gift ideas - specifics inside [more inside]
How do I mentally persevere through the last 5 years of work?
Are you retired? How did you mentally handle the last 5-ish years of working? I feel like I am slowly dying of ennui and apathy but need to hold on a little longer. [more inside]
Best Professor Layton and Phoenix Wright games?
What are the best Professor Layton and Phoenix Wright, Ace Attorney games available now for Switch? Partner hates combat games and I think they'd enjoy these, only I haven't played any since the DS so I have no idea what's good in these franchises now. Many thanks!
December 17
Seasonal like Rudolph maybe? Do capillaries know it's Christmas?
For the first time, my nose got red after drinking alcohol. Neat! Why? Before blindly linking to the wikipedia page for alcohol flush reaction, please read on. [more inside]
How to feed a pizza oven?
How much wood does a backyard pizza oven typically use to get to 8-900ºF ? [more inside]
Interactive video quiz
I’d like to have questions pop up during a video and have my students answer them as they go. This is partially to check understanding in the moment and partially to ensure they watch the video! [more inside]
Can you help me find the ultimate velour tracksuit?
My husband is absolutely in love with this velour tracksuit he bought. There are no other colors. Can you help me find something similar? [more inside]
When is it appropriate to re-post "Jingle Rock Bell"?
I am considering a post about Lentrohamsanin's timeless, haunting winter classic song, "Jingle Rock Bell." Is it too early in the holiday season to make a FPP about it -- should I wait until this weekend to loose the mighty earworm on the world?
Be my personal shopper
I need an office cardigan that meets my specific requirements. Can you help me find it? [more inside]
How do I find and make meaningful contributions to open source projects?
Please give me general and specific advice about how to make my first contributions to open source projects. Looking for best practices for finding projects, making connections, and being helpful. I’m comfortable programing in Python and contributing to documentation. [more inside]
Experience gifts: let's list them all
Let's generate a list of all of the possible experience gifts in the world. I'll start: [more inside]
Looking for an article about unspoken assumptions in video games
I remember running across an article or two a couple of years ago that discussed unspoken assumptions or cultural conventions in modern video games. The main focus was about how there are conventions and tropes in modern video games that developers just assume everyone knows, and how people who hadn't grown up gaming had a steep learning curve getting to grips with them. Does this ring a bell for anyone? [more inside]
December 16
Help interpreting Gustavo Cerati lyric (Spanish, por seguro)
I know what each word means, but I'm having trouble with interpretation. [more inside]
Feed me weird things (for the holidays)
What fancy restaurants are open in Seattle (WA) on Christmas Day? Fancy would be spending more than, say, $50 per person, as opposed to cheap takeout. Thanks!
Help Chunky Kitty Change his Diet with the Least Stress
Vet prescribed Bear a weight-loss diet that is completely different from what he's used to eating. Need tips for easing him into it without making him completely miserable. Based on past experience I'm tempted to just refuse to diet him, but figured we would give it one more try, with your expert advice! [more inside]
Dishwasher and icemaker suddenly not working
My dishwasher and icemaker suddenly stopped working. It reminds me of an earlier issue when water was accidentally turned off and just required a simple fix. I’d rather not wait for my landlord to if it is a little fix like turning a valve. This is what it looks like. Any suggestions?
Something you want, something you need, yadayada, what should teen read?
What book/reading material would you give a senior in high school who you are unsure of their interests? [more inside]
Illustrated story about essential NYC?
Came across it a few years ago ... it might have been Roz Chast, but maybe not. Anyway, it was a cartoon about 2 friends doing the most essential New York City things. The one I remember perfectly was having martinis at Bemelman's. Everything else is a blank, and I'd like to share it with a friend who'll be in the city next month? Any ideas? Thanks!
Am I using the right wire gauge for this low voltage application?
I’m setting up a small hobby/garage solar installation: 600W of panels, 40A charge controller, and 12V/300Ah LiFePo4 battery. Based on charts like this one I’ve selected 10AWG wiring between the controller and the battery because it can carry 55A of current in an open-air “chassis wiring” configuration. I’m wondering about the much smaller 15A capacity in the power transmission column: should I be worried about that enormous spread? Is 10AWG wire enough for this setup?
Software for collecting and acting on feedback?
Looking for suggestions on software to collect, categorize, prioritize, and publish feedback, details inside. [more inside]
Help me find comfortable tights
I'd like to wear dresses/skirts to work more often in cooler weather but struggle to find comfortable tights due to sensory issues. The biggest challenge is that I cannot stand anything with nylon in it (often listed as "polyamide" in the fiber content). This is starting to seem like an impossible quest. Any leads? Note that I live in Canada. [more inside]
Efficient way to collect daily expenses and record in Quickbooks?
In a small company setting, what would be an efficient way to collect daily expenses (work hours, gas, purchases) from staff and record them in QuickBooks for payroll? [more inside]
December 15
Locked out of Microsoft email
I'm locked out of my hotmail email account, and my attempt at account recovery failed. What do I try next? [more inside]
How to divest myself of unwanted movies?
We moved in a hurry, and afterwards I swore I would do some much needed winnowing of media: books, music, movies. However, my old go to (Half Price Books) isn't near me anymore. I don't have to get money for them, but it might be nice? Help?
More comfortable setup for seated meditation
I'm currently doing seated meditation sitting on a yoga block, legs crossed (not lotus, just crossed), with a pillow behind my back, up against a dresser or hard surface. It's a reasonably upright position. After 30 mins or so, my legs and feet edges (those pressing against the ground) get sore and cramped. What would be a better setup? [more inside]
December 14
Solutions for menopause-induced ravenous hunger?
I’m just recently in full menopause, out of peri. I’m experiencing a new symptom which is extremely frequent ravenous hunger. [more inside]
Low profile taper candle holders
Be Santa's helper! I'm looking for low-profile candle holders. These will be used to hold tapers (tall upright candles), but I don't want candlesticks. I want something low to the table that will be stable and easy to clean. I'm open to all styles -- whatever you think is pretty, maybe I'll think it's pretty.
Where to stay in California, for good ethnic food choices?
I spent January in Oceanside CA. I enjoyed the beach and walking daily in a no snow environment. That was the point of that vacation. This time I would like to add, good affordable food for eating out. I am a food truck, cafe, dingy diner kind of person. I want good ethic food of any kind. Live music would be much appreciated also. [more inside]
Experiences with online art print warehouses?
When I Google this I just get hits for the best companies for print on demand, but that's not what I want. I would like to source some quality prints of art (like what you'd get in a museum gift shop). There are a lot of companies in this space (PSTR studio, Redbubble, Desenio, Art.com, Society6 etc.) and while I can obviously look at reviews, I wonder if anyone here has tried out a couple of these and can compare or vouch for the quality. Thanks!
Quality doll that can wear newborn clothes
Help-me-shop-Filter. I'm curious what is the latest and greatest in the world of dolls that can wear real baby clothes and generally seem somewhat realistic. Any advice would be much appreciated, especially if it can arrive within the US by Christmas! Thanks for any advice!